The ‘Stranger Things’ universe is here to stay, but its latest expansion might be a sign of a problem in the franchise. Netflix’s announcement of a second season for ‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85’ is a sign that there’s still interest in the series.
However, it also begs the question: How much more can this particular slice of the timeline have to offer? Rather than branching out into new and exciting directions, the animated spin-off seems set to continue to fill the existing voids between events that fans are already familiar with.
‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ Is Running Out Of Room With Season 2
Season 1 of ‘Tales from ’85’ covered the time between ‘Stranger Things’ seasons 2 and 3 and brought a brand new character, Nikki Baxter, and put her in some of the most significant moments in Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Will’s lives.
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It was an idea that had merit, but also caused continuity problems, especially since Nikki never appears in the original series, even though she seems to be a major part of the story.
But season 2 will follow the end of season 1, fitting another supernatural adventure into an already busy timeline. The problem is that many of these characters are fated to go where fans know they go before season 3 starts. That leaves the spinoff with little room for story. The world is suddenly small.
Each new story must delicately navigate through existing events, ensuring that the franchise doesn’t feel more like it’s completing a checklist than solving new mysteries. It’s fun to go back to Hawkins, but there’s a feeling that the show is going after information that wasn’t necessarily needed to be explained.
The Franchise May Need A Bigger Leap
A key factor in successful spin-offs is their ability to venture into new areas. They do not have to go back to the same people and same places, but instead provide a reason for audiences to view the world differently. ‘Stranger Things’ might need to be bolder with its creativity there.
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The Upside Down’s influence certainly doesn’t have to be limited to Hawkins or the original cast. The franchise may be unpredictable again with new settings, new time periods, and completely new characters.
The main problem with ‘Tales from ’85’ might not be the animation style, or even the new characters. It’s the fact that it’s faithful to the main series. The more stories in the same tight frame, the more difficult it is for those stories to feel like they’re needed.
Netflix definitely isn’t looking to let ‘Stranger Things’ go. However, if the universe is going to thrive beyond the original show, it may need to stop looking between the cracks of the past and start building a future of its own.
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